Current motor



27, 1929- v s, B. f/l HENRY 1,726,405

' CURRENT MOTOR Fild Nov. 28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet Jana/e15 M97002 INVENTOHI I Ar'rcRNEY unwasw WM- Aug. 27, 1929. s. B. MHENRY' 1,726,405

CURRENT MOTOR FiledNov; 2a, 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2 wrm 555% 9 I ATTORNEY 5 aifiTO R Aug. 27, 1929. 5, 3, MCHENRY 1,726,405

CURRENT MOTOR Filed Nov. 28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

h 3/ Samuel B. fi /fenry 35 INVENTQR W WITNESSW ATTORNEY power thus derived shall be available forv Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

1 PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL B. McHENRY," 0F BLOOMSBUBG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CURRENT, Moron Application filed. November 28, 1927. Serial No.j236,290.

Anobject of this invention is to utilize the natural flow of a creek or like body of water flowing from a source for converting the same into power in such manner that the manufacturing and for other purposes. a

A further object is the provision of means for utilizing the flow of a stream for derivin g powertherefr'om, and which includes any desired number of water wheels spaced from each other but hitched together, arranged in a sluice and journaled in such a manner that the lower blades of each of the wheels will be subjected to the full forceof the current contacting therewith regardless of the level of such current, so that all of the wheels will revolve in unison and at the same rate of speed and combined to impartpower to a drive shaft, and further wherein means is provided for preventing driftwood, logs, ice or any other floatable matter entering the sluiceway and inflicting injury to the water wheels therein.

A further object is the provision of means for utilizing the How of a stream for converting thesame into power which shallvbe of such construction and arrangement that the power of the water wheels willbe increased over those of similar devices with which I am acquainted,v and wherein the water wheels will be automatically raised and lowered so that the current will contact with only the lower blades thereof, and the force of such contact will be equal throughout.

A still further object of this invention is to erect or build a sluiceway in a stream of flowing water, preferably adjacent to the bank of such stream, thesaid sluiceway being arranged at an inclination and the stream, atthe entrance to the sluiceway is dammed so that the water from the stream must travel over this dam from its passage through the sluiceway, the top of the dam" being provided with obstructing elements to prevent the flow of drift wood, ice, etc. into the sluiceway and to direct such material into the stream, a gate also controls the passage of the water from the stream into the sluiceway, while in the sluiceway there is journaled in a novel manner spaced water wheels all of which are connected to impart power to a drive shaft, while float actuated means automatically raises and lowers the water wheels so that only the; lower blades thereof will he the path at chntac-t with in the sluiceway, while float-actuated brake means regulates the vertical movement of the water wheels. 1 I i To the. attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood, the improvement resides in certain other novel" features of construction, combi nation and operative iLSSOCliLtlOIl of parts,

one satisfactory embodiment of which is disclosed by the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings x r v I Figure l is a plan View of the improvement 7 A Figure 2 isa sectional view approximately on the line 22 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 3;3 of Figure 2. r v Figure-4' is a sectional view approximate sly on'the line te l of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional View approximately on theline 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 IS a IPGI'SPGCUVQ View of one of thecyoke members that form an element of the adjusting means for the water wheels.

Preferably along the bank of a creek or similar body ofwater flowing out ofa source I erect a sluiceway. The sluiceway is preferably formed of concrete, and the wall thereof next to the bank is indicated for distinction by the numeral 1. This wall, at

,the outlet of the sluiceway is rounded,vas at 2, so that the mouth 3 of the sluiceway is directed into the stream 4. The inner wall of the sluiceway is indicatedby the numeral 5, and tlie rear or inlet end of the sluiceway is built angularly, as indicated by the numeral 6. By reference to Figure 2 of the drawings it will be seen that thelower wall of the sluiceway is arranged at a downward angle from its inlet end 6 to its outlet end or mouth 3.

, The rear wall 6 ofthe sluiceway provides the top of a concrete dam 7 erected across the creek or stream 4 so that the water in the creek, atthe-inlet to the sluiceway will built to a greater height than the side [wall -prqpea; 'rheitop of theiinlet end 6 eras sluiceway is formed with speeee vertically the water regardless of the level of the water sluiceway, so that such material will not in-- extending barriers 8 that are closely related and which prevent the passage of drift wood, ice or other buoyant material into the terferewith the water wheels in the sluice way, which wheels will presently be described. Preferably, and as disclosed by the drawings the wall 6 is of a height equaling the height of the raised or elevated ends of the side walls 1 and 5 and the barriers 8 are formed in an opening in the wall 6, the low- -er wall provided by thesaid opening being in a line with the inclined bottom wall 9 of the sluiceway. Thus the'wall 6 is in the nature of an abutment or bulwalk, and the passage between the barriers 8 are controlled by a vertically movable gate 10 arranged for travel through suitable guides 11' and raised and. lowered in any desired or preferred manner.

The side walls 1 and 5 of the sluiceway, between the entrance end and outlet mouth thereof have built therewith outwardly projecting substantially rectangular wells 12. The wells are arranged in oppositely directed pairs, and in the sluiceway between each pair of wells there is a water wheel 13. Any desired number of water wheels may be employed,'three of such being shown in the drawings. Each water wheel hashub portions which are fixed on a shaft 14. Radiating from each of thehubs there are spokes to which theblades 15 are connected.

The shafts 14 have their ends journaled through suitable bearing blocks 16. J ournaled in the under face of each'of the bearformed with substantially hook-like extensions, the depending or beak portions of which having their outer portionsbeveled as at 22.

Below the bearings 16 there is fixed on each of the parts 17 of the worm screws 18,

the hub of a beveled gear 23. The upper face of each beveled gear 23, inward of its teeth is formed with an annular depression in which is received the offset end 24 of an arm 25. The arm 25 has an elongated opening therethrough for the reception of the part 17 of the worm screw 18, and outward of this elongated opening the said arm 25 is provided with another opening through which passes a guide rod 26 that has one end offset and fixed to the bearing 16. The outer end of each of the arms 25 has a rod connection witha float 27 that is received in the basin 12. This construction provides a friction means for regulating the vertical movement of the water wheel-s in both directions, as will presently be understood and appreciated.

Arranged for longitudinal movement upon a key or spline 28, let in the shafts 14, ad-

jacent to the ends thereof, there is a beveled 7 gear wheel 29. The outer face of each of the gears 29"is formed with an annular depression, providing the inner portion thereof with an annular extension 30, and each of tl'lGSGGXtGIlSlOIlS is centrally formed with a' formed with outwardly extendingtrunnions' 36 that are journaled in suitable bearings 37 in the bearing blocks 16. Each yoke 35 straddles one end of the respective shafts 14 and is normally sustained at an angle with respect to the shafts and to the bearing blocks 16. Each yoke 35 has centrally connected thereto a rod 38 to whose lower end there is fixed a float 39,, and the floats 39 are also arranged in thebasins 12, at a suitable distance away from the fioats'27.

Floating debris will, as previously stated, be deflected by the bulwalk wall 6 of the sluiceway into the creek at one side of the sluiceway. The passage of water into the sluiceway between the barriers 8 isregulated by the adjustment of the gates 10. The

water traveling through the sluiceway being elevated above the surface of the creek opposite the outlet of the sluiceway will,in

seeking its level, travel with greater rapidity than the normal flow of the creek. The water through the sluiceway will contact with only the lower blades of the water wheels 20. The water from the'sluiceway entering the wells will be calmed but the volume of water contacting with the lower blades of the'water wheels will revolve the same with great rapidity. Regarjdless'of the rise of the water in the wells and the elevation of the water in its travel through the sluiceway such water will only contact with the lower portions of the lower blades of the water Wheels. Should the water in the sluiceway rise it will also rise in the wells. This, of course, will raise the floats 39, and cause the same to swing the yokes-35 to bring the beveled gears 29 into mesh with the beveled gears 23, causing the latter to turn the wonm screws 18, and which screws being guided through the nut members 19 will automatically raise the bearings 16, and

too rapid a movement of thewater wheelswhen the same are brought to either their elevated or lowered positions. water'wheels have been raised to their utmost elevations the beveled faces 22 on the hooked ends of the guide rods 20 will be brought against the outer faces of the beveled gears 29, causing the same to be moved longitudinally on the shafts 14 and out of mesh with the beveled gears 23, thus permitting the downward, movementv of the wheels and the elements associated there with, and this downward movement is steadied by the brakes 25.

Keyed or otherwise fixed on the ends 0 the shafts 14 which extend over the wells arranged in the bank of; the stream, there are sprocket wheels around which are trained sprocket chains 40 and 41 respectively. The central shaft has two sprocket wheels to receive the said chains 40 and 41 therearound. This central shaft hasalso a universal connection 42 with a shaft 43 that is designed to drive machinery or operate other devices. The power of all the water wheels is equal, and the combined power of these wheels is directed to the shaft 43, and it will be thus seen that heavy machinery may be operated by the said shaft 43. The improvement is comparatively simple and the construction, operation and advantages thereof will, it is thought be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the artto which such invention relates when the fore going description has been carefully read in connection with the accompanying drawings. Obviously I do not wish to be restricted to the precise details as herein set forth and consequently hold myself entitled to make all such changes and modifications therefrom as fairly fall within the scope of what I claim.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A current motor including a sluiceway, said sluiceway having outwardlyxextending wells arranged in spaced pairs, water wheels having shafts whose ends project into the wells, bearings for the ends of the shafts, vertically disposed guide rods passing through the bearings and having hooked outer ends whose depending portions are beveled, worm screws having non-threaded portions which are freely journaled in the lower ends of the bearings, fixed nuts through which the screws pass, beveled gears When the arm having a lipped end received in each of said grooves,guide means for each brake arm, a float in each of the wells having a rod connection with each of the brake arms, a beveled gear splined for longitudinal movement on the ends of each shaft, and each of said beveled gears having an annular grooved portion, a sectional but connected ring ineach of said grooved portions, rods extending therefrom, yokes hav-, ing the endsof their arms journaled in the bearings for the shafts, rods connecting the yokes with their ends, a float in each well and .a rod connection between the float and eachyoke, endless'chains connectin the end shafts with the intermediate shaft, and a power shaft having a universal connection with theintermediate shaft.

2. A current motor including a sluiceway having oppositely disposed outwardly extending wells, water wheels having shafts whose ends are journaled in the wells, bear- I ings for the ends of the shafts, worm screws having non-threaded portions which are freely journaled through the bearings, fixed nuts through which the screws pass, beveled gears on the non-threaded ends of the screws, guides for the bearings, a beveled gear on the shafts to mesh with the first mentioned gears afloat in each well, brake mechanism between the bearings and the floats and a connection between the brake mechanism and the floats and actuated by the latter for forcing the first mentioned beveled wheels out of engagement with the last mentioned beveled wheels when the floats are at a predetermined elevation in the wells.

3. A current motor including a sluiceway having outwardly extendingoppositely disposed webs in the side walls thereof, water wheels having shafts -whose ends project into the wells, a bearing for the end of each shaft,'a screw having a non-threaded end freely received in said bearing and carrying a fixed sprocket wheel, a fixed nut through which the screw is guided, a beveled wheel slidably arranged on each end of the shaft for coengagement with the first mentioned beveled wheels, a rotatable element carried by the last mentioned beveled wheels, rods extending therefrom, and guided through the bearings, a swingable member carried by the bearings and engaging with the rods, a brake element engaging with the first mentioned beveled wheel and carried by the swingable element, afloat in each well and a rod connection between each float and each swingable element.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SAMUEL B. MQHENRY. 

